Smart merge for CSV files with different columns
Combine CSV files whose columns are in a different order, use different capitalization, or are missing from some files. Smart merge lines columns up by name, privately in your browser.
How smart merge works
Two files with different columns become one file with every column
| Name | City | |
|---|---|---|
| Alice | [email protected] | Paris |
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| [email protected] | Bob | 555-0101 |
| Name | City | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice | [email protected] | Paris | blank |
| Bob | [email protected] | blank | 555-0101 |
Matched by name
Columns line up by name, ignoring capital letters and spaces at either end.
Nothing is dropped
Every column from every file is kept. Files without a column get blank cells in it.
Order is kept
The first file's columns come first; new columns are added in the order they're found.
Mixed separators work
Comma, semicolon and tab-separated files can be combined together.
You see what happened
After combining, you'll see which columns were only in some files and which names look alike.
Files already have the same columns in the same order? Quick combine is faster.
Frequently asked questions
How are columns matched?
By name. Differences in capital letters and spaces at the start or end are ignored, so "Email", "email" and " EMAIL " all go in one column. The combined file uses the spelling from the first file that has the column.
What happens to columns that some files don't have?
Every column from every file is kept. Rows from files without a column get a blank cell in it. After combining, you'll see which columns were only in some files.
What order are the columns in?
The first file's columns come first, in their original order. Columns that only appear in later files are added after them, in the order they're first found.
What if columns have slightly different names?
Only names that match (ignoring case and surrounding spaces) are merged. If two columns look alike, such as "Email" and "E-mail", they're kept separate and pointed out after combining so you can rename one and try again.
Can the files use different separators?
Yes. Each file's separator is detected on its own, so comma, semicolon and tab-separated files can be combined. The combined file uses the first file's separator.
Why is it slower than quick combine?
To line columns up, every cell in every file has to be read and rearranged, while quick combine copies rows as they are. Small files still take a moment; very large ones can take several seconds, and the page stays responsive while it works.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Smart merge happens entirely in your browser, the same as quick combine. Nothing is uploaded to a server, so your data never leaves your device.